Starting on the wings are Lithuanian veteran Rimuntas Kaukenas and Indiana State product David Moss. Both joined the team over the summer as the team completely rebuilt its wing positions due to budget cuts, and both contribute on both ends. Kaukenas has the strong mid-range game, the ability to get to the basket around curls, the finishing ability and the tough defense; Moss is the better athlete and rebounder with a purer three point stroke. Both are undersized for their position, but they're scorers, finishers, playmakers and disruptive defenders. There is also former Spurs draft pick Malik Hairston in the mix, who missed the first part of the season with back problems, but who has ramped up production throughout the season and become a key bench contributor. Hairston contributes his usual all-around game - no one outstanding facet, but good defensive effort and versatility, some athleticism, an outside shot and post-up play, able to play a complimentary role to whichever combination of players he takes the court with. Young Italian guard Pietro Aradori also has a role to play in the backcourt as predominantly a shooting specialist, as does elder statesman Marco Carrareto, playing in much the same role.

[...] [Zabian] Dowdell did not make the initial list, perhaps in part due to an oversight, but because his numbers thus far this season had not been overwhelming. Playing on the incredibly deep 66ers roster, Dowds averaged 14.5 points, 4.6 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.8 turnovers in 29 minutes per game, shooting 41% from the field and 31% from three, with 261 points on 230 shots. The assist to turnover ratio was nice, and the defense as present as ever, yet Dowdell's individual scoring ability has not been there. Nevertheless, Phoenix now gives a regular season look to this long-coveted player for them, who should fit in nicely with an up-tempo game, and defend better than the Nash/Dragic point guard combo (which, while awesome, only impacts one end).

San Antonio like to fill out their roster, and in recent years have shown intelligent use of the D-League as a means of stashing fringe young players that they can't keep due to roster constraints. Draft picks Marcus E. Williams and Malik Hairston have been the main beneficiaries of this manipulation; however, both have gone now. Williams is unsigned and seemingly no longer in the team's plans, while Hairston was waived earlier in the summer to go and join Italian powerhouse Montepaschi Siena (who subsequently released him due to injury, but who then brought him back again.)